Discover 10 interesting facts about the whales that you might see on your next trip to Cabo!
Did you know, there are more than 33 species of dolphins and whales swimming in Mexico’s Pacific waters? The Cabo Adventures tours will take you up close and personal with some of nature’s coolest friends.The Cabo Adventures team is extremely passionate about the wildlife in Mexico and we are proud to share with you facts about them and glimpses into our beautiful blue seas.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the whales that you might see on your next trip to Cabo.
Blue whales are the largest mammal ever to have lived
Weighing up to the equivalent of 15 school buses (or 200 tons), the blue whale is approximately double the weight of the largest dinosaur that ever existed. While it’s shorter in length than that formidable foe, the blue whale can still grow up to 80 feet. Plus, they boast a tongue that weighs as much as an elephant and can eat 40 million krill a day. Isn’t that incredible?
Despite the name, blue whales are not actually blue
Blue whales actually borrow their beautiful blue glow from thousands of tiny algae that are on their skin. When blue whales go to the surface to take in air, their gray skin looks blue because these organisms reflect the blue of the water.
Grey whales definitely go the distance during their lifetimes
Every year, whales migrate from the cold waters near Alaska to the warm Pacific waters that you will be swimming in when you visit our Mexican Baja peninsula. This journey equates to approximately 10,000 miles. Over their lifetimes, the total distance of these migration patterns equals a trip to the moon.
Dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins
Read that a few times and see if it makes sense. Even if it doesn’t, it’s still true! All dolphins, whales and porpoises are Cetacea and that overarching term is broken down into baleen whales and toothed whales. Dolphins are part of the toothed whale category, but that does not translate to whales being dolphins (except for the orca, which is in fact a dolphin). Confusing much?
Whales have to come to the surface to breathe
Unlike fish, whales need to surface to take in air. With that said, they can hold their breath for a very long time. Whales can remain submerged for 20 minutes at any one time – though a Cuvier beaked whale was one recorded remaining underwater for 138 minutes. Incredible!
Whales love to sing!
We love this fact so much because it means humans aren’t so different from these giant creatures. Unlike many other animals who have only one specific mating call, whales can vary their songs and teach them to one another. Whales will sing to each other for up to 30 minutes, can be heard from 20 miles away and jazz musicians have even nabbed their sounds to use as background noise on musical albums.
Whales live a long time and we’re glad for it
Whales are some of the world’s longest living mammals. While the bowhead whale can live up to 200 years, orcas live more than 100 years and even humpback whales (who you can find in Mexico!) can keep their fins flipping for up to 80 years.
Whales sleep with half their brain to avoid drowning
In order to keep their bodies at a liveable temperature, whales cannot sleep for more than 30 minutes at a time. Because they are conscious breathers, they often rest on the surface of the water so they are able to get oxygen even while they rest.
Whales have multiple stomachs
Whales love to eat and they need space to store the millions of tiny krill they ingest every day. While some whales have three stomachs, others have as many as 13. Yes, 13.
Whales have babies like humans (kind of)
Like humans, whales have relatively long pregnancies, ranging from 10 to 12 months. They only give birth to one calf at a time – though the baby comes out breach (aka tail first) to minimize the risk of drowning.
Now that you know a little more about whales, why not come meet a few during your next visit to Cabo?
Our Cabo Adventures tour guides will be thrilled to share their knowledge and excitement about Cabo’s whales with you. During your next trip to our gorgeous shores, book one of our whale watching tours and get up close and personal to the world’s gentle giants. From luxury whale watching through to swimming with dolphins, we can’t wait to be a part of one of your unforgettable life experiences.
